Assicmstob



D. S. HOLT.

TIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1919.

1,326,895. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. S. HOLT. TIMI NG APPARAIUS.

APPLlCATION FILED FEB. 5.1919.

1 326,895. Patented Dec. 30, 1919. V

D. S. HOLT.

TIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mm. I919.

1,326,895. Patented Dec 30, 1919.

v 4 SHEETSSHEEI 3.

8Q 5967 v jmizl w I o. s. HOLT.

TIMING APPARATUS. awucmou man FEB. 5. 1912.

v Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 4.

DANI s PAPE a. COMPANY, or MZITTINEAGUE, MASSACHUSETTS.

norm, or IIIITTINEAGUE, mnssAci-rp snrrs, Ass gn o3, TO STBATHMOIR-E M'AssAcnusErms, A. oonrona'rioiv or TIMING: APPARATUS.

Application filed February 5,

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Daizmn S. HOLT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at B Iittlneague, in the county of Ilampden and State of lvlassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful lniproveinents in Timing lkpparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to imp rove nents in timing apparatus. The invention also relates to the combining of a tilning apparatus with machines of a particular type for the purpose of autoi'natically timing successive cycles of operation thereof and indicating to the operator the ends of such cycles.

ien object of the invention is to combine a timing apparatus with a machine of the sort which involves a receiver, into which charges of material are successively placed for treatment by a movable element in the receiver, the timing apparatus being driven from said element and operable, after a predetermined interval, to close an electric circuit or operate a signaling device, to indicate the proper time for ejection of the charge from the receiver.

another object of the invention is to pro vide,in the combination described, a timing apparatus which may be thrown into and out ofgear with the said movable element, and means whereby the apparatus may be thrown out of gear when the material is discharged from the receiver and into gear when material is fed into the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with a lnachine of the type described, a recording apparatus, the operation of which is aut'oniatically con trolled from the timing apparatus, so that permanent records showing the productive and non-productive intervals of the machine may be obtained.

i-l further object of the invention is to provide generally improved timing apparatus, capable of general application without regard to the machine with which it is used.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the accoinpanyin drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a n1a chine showing the timing apparatus applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view Specification of Letters Patent.

Batented Dec. 30,1919.

1919. Serial No. 275,213.

of thetiming apparatus, shown as removed from its incloslng, casing;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view. of the tiniingapparatus;

Fig, 4 is. a sectional plan view, thereof taken on the line" H of Fig, 2;

Fig. 5- is a side elevationalview ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6, is an enlarged front elevational view of the cover of the timing apparatus, showing the means for adjusting the latter to operate at different time intervals; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational View, taken similarly to Fig. 2 but showing certain parts in different relativepositions;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the adjusting finger shown in Fig. 5 and F ig.; 9 is a diagram of the electrical connections used with the apparatus.

In order to illustrate the invention, it is shown in one of its specific uses 1n connec-. tion with the well known thrasherdust er machine, commonly usedin paper mills to clean the rags used in paper manufacture. The invention is, however, capable of many other uses than the one to be hereinafter dis closed, and, although the disclosure will be confined to the one use, it is not intended to restrict the invention to such single use.

Referring to the drawings in detail; there is illustrated conventionally in Fi 1 a thrasher-duster machine. This machine, so far as the. present invention is concerned, includes a suitable receiver, in the form of a casing A, within-which is a thrasher drum 6, suitably driven by means not shown. The receiver A has at one. side a suitable feed opening a and ssociated with the latter is a hopper (Z, into which the rags are placed and from which such rags pass through the feed opening 0 into the interior of the receiver A. The latter has a delivery opening or outlet 6, through which th rags, after having been thrashed by drum- Z), are expelled by the latter into a suitable receptacle, such as the container 7 for exalnple. The openings 0 and (Z may be opened or closed by doors 9 and h, respectively. As shown, the door 9 is slidable vertically upward to open inlet 0 and, in the practical operation of the machine, door 9 is moved down wardly after the charge of rags has been completely fed into the machine. The im portant point about door g is that it must be moved p ar y ea h i a charse '23 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5).

introduced into the machine and this movement of door 9 is utilized to start the operation of a timing apparatus, as will later appear. Th door h is normally in closed posltion, to prevent the discharge of rags from receiver A, and is adapted to be manually,

moved to the open position, illustrated in Fig. 1, to permit the rags to be thrown from the casing by drum 6 into the receptacle f. The opening of door 72 is utilized to stop the operation of the timing apparatus.

The timing apparatus is contained within a casing 10, suitably secured to the casing A (as shown in Fig.1) and provided with a suitable cover 11. Within casing 10 is a frame 12 which supports the timing ap paratus, as well as other devices, as will later appear. The timing apparatus itself includes, essentially, a, rotatable member, such as the gear wheel 13 (Fi 2) which is mounted for rotation on frame 12. Associated with the gear 13, and rotatable therewith on the same axis, is a drum 14, to which is attached a cord 15. The latter passes over a pulley 16 and its other end is attached to a weight 17 which is slidable in a guide tube 18 attached to frame 12. The weight 17, cord 15 and drum 14 tend to rotate the gear 13 in a counterclockwise direction and serve to return the gear into the illustrated position. In such position an arm 19, fixed to the forward face of gear 13 and projecting forwardly therefrom, as well as beyond the periphery of the gear, abuts a stop pin 20 secured to frame 12 (see also Fig. 5).

The arm 19 is adapted to be moved in a clockwise direction by the following mechanism. A worm 21, fixed on a shaft 22, is adapted to mesh with gear 13. Fixed to shaft 22, near the base thereof, is a ratchet 1 pawl 24 is slidably mounted on the base of frame 12 and is movable to the left (Fig. 4) against the tension of a spring 25 to turn the ratchet 23 one step in a clockwise direction. This movement is caused by an ececntric 26 (Fig. 1) fixed to the shaft 71 of drum 6. The strap 27 for eccentric 26 has one end loosely resting in an opening 28 in casing 10 (Fig. 4) and this opening is alined with pawl 24, so that the end of strap 27 lnay abut the adjacent end of pawl 24 and move it to the left, the return movement of the pawl being efl'ected by spring 25. A holding pawl 29 is provided for ratchet 23. This pawl 29 is fixed to the end of a flat spring 30, which in turn is secured to frame 12 (Figs. 4 and 5).

Thus, on each revolution of drum Z), shaft 22 will'be turned one step and after a predetermined number of revolutions of drum 5, and thus after a predetermined time interval (since the drum moves at substantially constant speed) the gear 13 will be carried in a clockwise direction into the position illustrated in Fig. In such position, the worm 21 is disposed in a recess 31 which is formed in the periphery of gear 13 for the purpose of arresting the progress of the gear after it has reached such position. This is necessary since the drum 6 usually turns continuously and worm 21 will continue to turn step by step, although idly, so far as the actuation of gear 13 is concerned. Before th gear 13 reaches the position shown in Fig. 7, the arm 19 is adapted to engage a spring finger 32, which is supported from a metal terminal block 33 secured to an insulating block 34, which in turn is secured to frame 12. As shown in Fig. 9, finger 32 is electrically connected to one terminal of a signaling device, such as a bell 35. The other terminal of the latter is connected to one terminal of a battery 36 and th other terminal of the battery is connected to arm 19. Thus, the engagement of arm 19 and finger 32 will energize the bell 35 and the latter is located adjacent the casing 10 (Fig. 1) so as to be heard by the operator. After the arm 19 has engaged the finger 32, it is possible, provided the. arm 19 continues to move, for a second finger 37 to be engaged with finger 32 and thus with arm 19. Finger 37 is electrically connected to on terminal of a second signaling device, such as a bell 38, and the other terminal of the bell is connected to battery 36, so that the described engagement of the fingers 32 and 37 will cause. an energization of the second signal. Finger 37 is mounted silnilarly to finger 32 upon the block 34. The second signal 38 is intended to be located at a dis tance from the machine, as for example, in the foremans room. 7

The second signal 38 is not always operated, however, and can be prevented from operating by opening the door it promptly on the signal imparted by bell 35. The means, by which this result is accomplished, involves a disconnection of the timing apparatus from its driving mechanism operated by drum Z). This disconnection is accomplished by throwing the worm 21 out of mesh with gear 13, whereupon the weight 17 will return the latter into the position shown in Fig. 2 and disengage the arm 19 from finger 32. Thus, the worm shaft 22 (Fig. 2) is supported at its lower end for rocking inovenient as indicated by the ball and socket joint 3 At its upper end the shaft 22 is guided in a slot 40 so forlned in frame 12 as to permit movement of the shaft 22 to and from the gear 13 but not in other directions. At the rear of frame 12 (Fig. 3) a rockable lever 41 is supported centrally between its ends on a knife edge 42 secured to the base of frame 12. Fixed centrally to lever 41 is an upstanding plate 43, having a central notch 44 to receive one end of a spring 45, and the other end of the latter is fixed to frame 12 vertically above the knife edge 42. The arrangement is such that the lever 41 remains in the position to which it is moved until subsequently rocked in the other direction. That is the notch 4& will be located either to the right or left of the vertical line connecting the knife edge and the upper support for spring 45. Lever ll also has fixed thereto a plate 46, to which is attached an upstanding looped wire as, the upper end of which encompasses shaft 22. Thus, when lever 11 is rocked clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 3 to its other position, worm 21 will be disengaged from gear 13.

The rocking of lever 41 is accomplished by the movement of doors 9 and h. Thus, loosely resting in a socket in one end of lever 41 is an upstanding post 3 9 (Fig. 3) which is suitably guided at its upper end in casing 10. On the opposite end of lever 41 a similar post 50 is provided. These posts have been largely omitted from the other figures to reveal other mechanism, but appear sufficiently in Figs. 3 and 4:. Above posts 19 and 50 are pipes 51 and 52 respectively which are threaded into casing 10 and extend upwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 1. These pipes 51 and 52 act as guideways for weights 53 and 54:, which are adapted to abut the upper ends of posts 49 and 50, respectively, to actuate the latter and rock lever 41. WVeight 53 is connected by a flexible cable 55 with the door 71., suitable guiding pulleys 56 being provided for the cable. Weight 54 is connected similarly by a cable 57 with door 9, pulleys 58 being provided for the cable as shown in ig. 1. Vith the parts positioned as in Fig. 3, an opening of door 72, will lower weight 53 sufficiently so that post 4-9 will be engaged and moved to tilt lever 11 from the illustrated position into its other position, wherein the worm 21 is disengaged from gear 13. A subsequent closing of door It will obviously have no efi'ect on lever 41 and the latter will stay in its moved position until door 9 is opened. Then weight 5& will be lowered sufficiently to move post 50 and tilt lever 4:1 back into the illustrated position, wherein the worm and gear are meshed. r1 subsequent closing of door 9 will not disturb this condition.

The time interval between the starting of the timing apparatus and the actuation of the signal 35 may be varied within limits as desired. Thus, a shaft 59 is mounted centrally in cover 11 (Fig. 5) and is pro; vided with a handle 60 (Figs. 5 and 6) whereby it may be turned. Cover 11 is provided with a circular series of apertures 61, in any one of which the end of handle 60 may be positioned to hold shaft 59 in its moved position. Shaft 59 carries an arm 62 which has a part disposed in the path'of arm 19 (Fig. 5) to act as an abutment for the latter and limit the return movement of gear 13. Thus, the latter when released may be turned back by weight 17 a less distance than originally described, viz., until the arm 19 abuts arm 62. The latter is preferably not rigidly attached to shaft 59 but is connected thereto by a torsion spring 63, one end of which is fixed to the shaft 59 and the other to arm 62, all as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The purpose of this arrangement is to yieldingly, rather than to suddenly arrest the return movement of gear 13. The spring 63 tends to hold arm 62 against a suitable stop 59 on shaft 59. The spring 63 likewise prevents breakage of arm 62 in case the handle 60 is turned while worm 21 is in mesh.

There is also provided a suitable recordmg apparatus, by means of which a permanent record is made showing the productive and non-productive intervals of operation of the thrasher-duster. Such recording apparatus, being well understood in the art. has not been illustrated in detail and the dia grammatlcal representation shown in Fig. 9 will suffice for the present purposes. Thus, a record sheet is driven by a drum Z bv suitable means, as clockwork mechanism (not shown) for example. A pen on plays over the record sheet and draws a line n, thereon. Pen m, is pivoted and is releasably held in the illustrated position by a magnet 0. One terminal of the latter is electrically connected to the battery 36 and the other terininal of the latter is connected to a finger 65 fixed on the rocking lever 41. The other terminal of the magnet 0 is connected to a contact 66 which is secured to a block 67 of insulating material fixed to frame 12 (Fi 3, 4 and 5). With the rocking lever 41 in the illustrated position, finger 65 is engaged with cont-act 66 and the magnet 0 is energized to hold the pen on in the illustrated position. As soon as lever 4L1 is moved to its other position, finger 65 moves away from contact 66 and interrupts the circuit to inagnet 0. At such time, a spring 69 pulls the pen m away from magnet 0 and against a stop 70. The pen on will then draw a second line p, which is offset from line 01. The lines at and 9 therefore respectively repreresent by their length the periods when the thrasher-duster is doing useful work and when it is running idle.

The detailed operation of the apparatus will largely appear from the foregoing description and the general operation need be only briefly described. The apparatus, in its contemplated use, is intended as an efficiency system to furnish a check upon the operator and insure a more uniform product from the machine. With the present machine,the thrasherduster,it is first found by test and experiment how long a time interval is required to treat the rags to the desired extent. Such time interval is translated into revolutions of the drum Z), which as noted turns at substantially constant speed. Having determined this time interval, the stop 62 is set, by turning arm 60, to so fix the starting point of the arm 19 that it will eng go the finger 32 at the end of the desired t e interval, or at the end of the desired number of revolutions of drum Z).

The machine and apparatus are now ready for normal operation ekssuining that the parts are in the relative positions indicated in Fig. 1; the drLn Z) roay be continuously revolving but the door ]L is open and, as has been described, the opening of door h throws worm 21 out of mesh with gear 13. An opening of door 9 is, however, effective to throw worn 21 into mesh with gear 13, provided door 7L has previously been closed, but not otherwise for the weights 53 and 51- are subi "antially equal and the former, being already upon the post :9, an equal weight, as 5- upon the other post 50 would not move the lever ll. Therefore the operator nust close door 7L before the timing apparatus can start and, having done this, he then places the charge of rags into hopper (Z and opens door g. The opening oi the latter starts the timing apparatus and, as soon as the rags are all fed into the receiver Jr the operator closes door 9. This lifts weight 5% away from post 50 but does not disturb the position of lever a l, which is held in place by spring 4t5. The attention of the operator is no longer required until the signal 35 is operated by the engagement of arm 19 with finger 32. Then the operator must needs do his work promptly for, if he does not prolnptly open door 7b to permit dis-' charge of the rags, the second signal 38 will be operated and such signal is intended for the ears of the foreman, who will come to the machine. If door 72, is opened, the weight 53 descends, abuts post 49, and tilts lever 41 to throw worm 21 out of mesh with gear 13, whereupon the latter is automatically returned into engagement with stop 62 in readiness for a subsequent timing operation. lVIeanw hile a permanent record of the operation of the machine is obtained on therecord sheet 7:, from which the foreman can readily check up the efiiciency of the operator by the shortness of the lines p, lines 0?, being, of course, of constant length since they are goverened by the timing apparatus.

The arrangement described is most effective as an efl'iciency ineasuro. I'Ieretoi ore, the operator Was apt to be blamed for not more quickly delivering rags from the inachine. Pressure would be brought to bear to make the operator hurry and, as a consequence, he was tempted to discharge the rags before they had been fully treated. Then the Wrath of another would be ventupon the operator for not thoroughly treating the rags. Thus, the operator was apt to be in trouble no matter w iat he did. arrangement relieves the operator of all this liability. IlIe knows that he Will not be bla-nied by anyone if he acts When the signal 35 is operated and, if he does not act at this time, he knows that he is properly blamed. The arrangement is particularly advantageous when ignorant, unskilled operators are employed, as is the custom with machines of the type described, for the ti1n ing apparatus does lnost of the thinking for them. Such operators are readily taught the simple routine of opening door it when the bell rings, then of closing this door, and opening the other to allow a charge in hopper n to be fed into the receiver.

The invention has been disclosed herein in an embodiment, which is chosen for illus trative purposes. It is recognized that many modifications may be made in the one embodirnent disclosed, having for their object the use of the invention in a form different than the specific one disclosed. It is there fore desired to have the scope of the inven tion determined by the appended claims interpreted by the spirit of the disclosure rather than by the letter of the exact form disclosed.

VVhat I claim is 1. The combination with a machine, having a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed and a movable niember within the receiver to operate on such material, of apparatus driven froln said member, a signaling device operable by said apparatus after said member has moved a predetermined distance, an outlet provided in the receiver for the discharge of said material, a member norm ally preventing the discharge of material and movable to permit such discharge, and means controlled by the said movenien't of the discharge controlling member to stop the operation of the signaling device.

2. The combination with a machine, having a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed, a movable inelnber in the receiver to operate on the lnaterial therein, an inlet through which the charge is introduced into the receiver, and a means for closing the inlet alter the introduction. of the charge; of apparatus adapted to be driven from said member, means controlled by the closing of said inlet to connect the apparatus and said member for driving engagement, and. a signaling device operable by said apparatus at a predetermined interval of operation of said member after the closing of said inlet.

3. The combination with a machine, having a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed, a movable member in the receiver to operate on the material therein, an inlet through which the charge The present is introduced into the receiver, means for closing the inlet after the introduction of the charge, and a discharge controller normally preventing discharge but movable when desired to permit such discharge; of apparatus adapted to be driven from said member, means controlled by the closing of said inlet to connect the apparatus and said member for driving engagement, a signaling device operable by said apparatus after a predetermined interval of operation of said member, and means operable by the movement of said controller to stop the operation of the signaling device.

4-. The combination with a machine, hava receiver into which charges of material are successively fed, a movable member in the receiver to operate on the material therein, an inlet through which the charge is introduced into the receiver, means for closing the inlet after the introduction of the charge, and a discharge controller normally preventing discharge but movable when desired to permit such discharge; of apparatus adapted to be driven from said member, means controlled by the closing of said inlet to connect the apparatus and said member for driving engagement, and means operable by the movement of said controller to disconnect the apparatus from driving engagement with said member.

The combination with a machine, havin a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed and a movable member within the housing to operate on such material; of apparatus driven from said member, a switch movable to one position by said apparatus after the charge has remained in said receiver for a predetermined interval of operation of said member, an outlet provided in the receiver for the discharge of said material, a member normally preventing such discharge and movable to permit such discharge, and means controlled by said movement of the discharge controlling member to move the switch to another position.

6. The combination with a machine, having a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed, a movable member in the receiver to operate on the material therein, an inlet through which the charge is introduced into the receiver, and a means for closing the inlet after the introduction of the charge; of apparatus adapted to be driven from said member, means controlled by the closing of said inlet to connect-the apparatus and said member for driving enga ement, and a switch operable from said apparatus after a predetermined interval of operation of said member after the closing of said inlet.

7. The combination with a machine, having a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed, a movable member in the receiver to operate on the material therein, and a discharge controller normally preventing discharge or" material from the receiver but movable at will to permit such discharge; of apparatus adapted to be driven from said member, a signaling device operable by said apparatus aiter a predetermined interval of operation of said member, and means operable by movement of said controller to stop the operation of said signaling device.

8. The combination with a machine, having a receiver into which charges of material are successively fed, a movable member in the receiver to operate on the material therein, and a discharge controller normally preventing discharge of material from the receiver but movable at will to permit such discharge; of apparatus adapted to be' driven from said member, a signaling device operable by said apparatus after a predetermined interval of operation of said member, a second signaling device operable a predetermined interval after the operation of the first named device, and means operable by movement or" said controller to stop the operation of said signaling devices.

9. In an apparatus or" the class described a driving member, a driven member, an arm carried by the latter, a finger adapted to be engaged by said arm after the driven member has been moved a predetermined distance, a second finger adapted to be engaged by the first named finger on continued movement of said arm, and meansautomatically operable on the engagement of said second finger to prevent further movement of the driven by the driving member and to hold the driven member in its moved position.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a driving member, a driven member, an arm carried by the latter, a finger in the path of said arm and adapted to be engaged by the latter after the driven member has moved a predetermined distance, a tiltable element connected with one of said members and operable when tilted from one position to another to disengage said members and when tilted from the latter to the former position to engage said members, and means to releasably hold said element in each of its positions.

11. In an appartus of the class described, a driving member, a driven member, an arm carried by the latter, a finger in the path of said arm and adapted to be engaged by the latter after the driven member has moved a predetermined distance, a tiltable element connected with one of said members and operable when tilted from one-position to another to disengage said members and when tilted from the latter to the former position to engage said members, and a switch operated by the tilting of said lever.

1.2. Timing apparatus, comprising, a driving member, a driven member, an arm carried by the latter, a finger in the path of said arm and adapted to be engaged by the latter after the driven member has moved a predetermined distance from an initial position, means to disconnect said members from the driving engagement after the driven member has moved said distance, means operable on such disconnection to return said driven member to its initial position, and a stop to yieldingly arrest the driven member in its initial position.

DANIEL S. HOLT. 

